How Traumatic Ulcers of Mouth Occur | Causes & Treatment | Prevention

Tag Archives:Traumatic Ulcers Treatment

What is Traumatic Mouth Ulcers

Ulcers formed in the oral cavity because of trauma are called as traumatic ulcers. Traumatic injuries involving the oral cavity may typically lead to the formation of surface ulcerations. The injuries may result from events such as accidentally biting oneself while talking, sleeping or thermal, chemical and mechanical trauma. Ulcers are painful sores and they are usually red or yellow in color. These traumatic ulcers cannot be caught by kissing or sharing drinks and utensils as they are not caused by infection.

These ulcers are seen in newborns, children and adults.

Newborns and infants:

Sublingual ulcers may occur as a result of chronic mucosal trauma due to adjacent anterior primary teeth.it is often associated with breast feeding.

Children:

Electrical and thermal burns are commonly seen.

Adults:

Carious, malposed, fractured teeth

Poor fitting dentures

Overheated foods

xerostomia

What are the Causes of Traumatic Ulcers?

Mechanical trauma

Chemical

Thermal

Electrical

Irradiation

Parafunctional habits

Mechanical trauma:

Mechanical trauma occurs due to

Sharp edges of teeth

Dental fillings

Crowns

poor fitting Dentures

Malpositioned teeth

Braces

Accidental biting

Rough foods

Trauma to the soft tissue may occur during dental treatment.

Thermal trauma:

It occurs due to

Hot food

Hot beverages

Microwave food

Commonly occurs on palate, posterior buccal mucosa

It appears as zones of erythema and ulceration with necrotic epithelium peripherally.

Electrical trauma:

Chewing the live electrical wires cause electrical trauma.

Ulcers are commonly seen at the corner of the mouth.

Initially painless, chared, yellow color with little bleeding later swelling appears. After that necrosis of ulcer occur. Later the necrotic epithelium sloughs off.

Chemical trauma:

Occurs mostly in children and psychiatric patients

Chemical injury depends on

Concentration of chemical agent

Time duration of chemical action on the mucosal surface.

Examples of chemical irritants

Aspirin

Eugenol

Chlorpromazine

Hydrogen peroxide

Irradiation trauma:

Due to radiation therapy stomatitis may develop associated with mucosal erosions and ulcers. Effect of radiation on salivary glands:-radiation on salivary glands may decrease the saliva production. Decreased production of saliva leads to lack of lubricating function which results in frictional damage and thinning of mucosa (mucosal atrophy) and breach of epithelium

Radiation effect on jaw bones:-Radiation damages the osteocytes. Hypovascular, hypocellular, hypoxic conditions occur due to osteocyte damage. This condition is called as osteoradionecrosis. It causes chronic pain and surface ulceration. Commonly affected jaw bone is mandible.

Parafunctional habits:

Bruxism, thumb sucking may be associated with the development of trauma of the buccal mucosa, labial mucosa, sides of tongue and palate.

What is the Treatment for Traumatic Mouth Ulcers?

Treatment procedure depends on

Size

Duration

Location

For minor ulcers

Remove the irritant

Use soft mouth guard

Use sedative mouth rinse

Application of topical anesthetics

Application of topical corticosteroids

Mechanical ,thermal burns will resolve within 10-14 days

Antibiotics will be given to prevent secondary infections. But most of the ulcers resolve without taking antibiotics.